Recently I got a short email from someone that read: Recently I got a short email from someone that read: “Just like you to know I'm glad you aren't in charge. If you stood between me and my freedoms of…
I had lunch yesterday with a friend who's an HVAC designer and home energy rater in North Carolina, and he mentioned the idea of separating HVAC design from HVAC contractors. For that to happen, though, HVAC contractors first have to…
As you may have heard, we have a new energy code here in Georgia that's one of the most progressive in the country. One of the new requirements, which to my knowledge no other state has, is that all new…
It started on Twitter the other day. I posted the photo you see to the left, and a discussion on flex duct ensued. One person, who's been known for taking strong stances now and then, saw it and said, "Flex…
What makes a Green Home green? Is it the bamboo floors? Maybe it’s the low-e windows or the extra insulation in the walls? What about a high efficiency heating and cooling system? Or maybe it's a plaque by your front…
Guest Post by Sean Lintow, who has been in three classes I taught (HERS, ENERGY STAR Version 3, and Advanced HVAC for Raters) and uses Energy Vanguard Energy Ratings as his HERS provider. Guest Post by Sean Lintow, who has…
I've been struggling to write a review of the ACI (Affordable Comfort) conference since it ended on Friday. Inspired by Steve Byers's post, though, and my San Francisco sight-seeing tour, I'm going to dive in. I've been struggling to write…
Here's another in the series of building practices that drive me crazy - recessed can lights. They're so popular that some remodelers carry a shotgun and walk through the house randomly shooting holes in the ceilings to install them. Here's…
When I first became a HERS rater and went to the RESNET conference in 2004, I got to talk with David Lee, who was the head of the ENERGY STAR homes program at the time. Because I was puzzled by…
RESNET, the Residential Energy Services Network, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IJA, the International Jugglers Association. The goal of the MOU with IJA is to promote the creation of new requirements, certifications, equipment sales, and training…